Now that we can put FIFA World Cup behemoth behind us, we can start to look forward to RWC 2019.

I can't wait.

I'd like to read peoples' views on what we can realistically expect, or hope to achieve for the sport next year.

I'd like to see the following minimum sporting goals:

1. Japan to get to Quarter final2. 1 new semi-finalist3. 1 new finalist4. 1 new winner (all the above point to Ireland)5. No blow outs, two shock results in pools, 2 shock results in knock-out6. Record number of tries7. Massive impact of performance from at least T2/T3 team back in their home country8. Georgia to do claim a big scalp9. Less predictability

Non-sporting:

1. 90% attendance2. Overall TV audience growth by 10-20%, massive growth in Brazil, Spain, Italy, Germany.3. TV viewing figures in Japan to be higher than their football team got4. Attendance at the games by political leaders of countries involved - this adds to the weight given to the event as a whole5. England and France to do well (biggest markets) and generate huge support back home6. Something really big I can't think of to out-do FIFA7. Fan parks in England/France full (early kick offs, colder weather might not help here).

Simply, for a 6 Nations team to have to enter the qualifying system next time.Also no nillings, and for the tournament to have the smallest "biggest winning margin of the tournament" for some time. I believe the 1991 tournament has the smallest biggest winning marging of 44 (Japan 52 - 8 Zimbabwe, Ireland 55 - 11 Zimbabwe). Though that is very unlikely.

Regarding 7. My dream scenario for the US is a win over Tonga as well as a second, likely over Argentina. If we just have 1 I’d still be happy but very disappointed if we can’t beat Tonga or get blown out by all the T1 teams.

My dream would be :Two of the ‘big 8’ to not To progress pass their poolNo blowout scores, no team posting 80 points!!Japan to make the quartersMassive tv ratings in JapanIreland to not progress pass the quarters ..... againThe All Blacks to lose in the knockout phase without controversy

• Japan make the quarter finals• At least 3 T1 nations failing to make the quarter finals (we know one will happen in Pool C at least)• At least one T1 nation having to qualify for 2023• At least 3 genuine upsets. The games I think this could happen in are JAP v IRE, USA v ENG, ITA v RSA, GEO v WAL, FIJ v AUS, TON v FRA, USA v ARG• Average margin of victory to reduce again• Crowd average of around 42,000 and 85% of all tickets sold. • Anyone other than New Zealand winning

• Japan make the quarter finals• At least 3 T1 nations failing to make the quarter finals (we know one will happen in Pool C at least)• At least one T1 nation having to qualify for 2023• At least 3 genuine upsets. The games I think this could happen in are JAP v IRE, USA v ENG, ITA v RSA, GEO v WAL, FIJ v AUS, TON v FRA, USA v ARG• Average margin of victory to reduce again• Crowd average of around 42,000 and 85% of all tickets sold. • Anyone other than New Zealand winning

Some of this stuff is like asking Santa to bring you a pink Lambo in mid august.

Argentina make semifinal Japan make QFUsa win over tongaUruguay winning one match or giving hard battles to fiji and georgiaGeorgia getting the automatic qualification Namibia winning a match 24 teams for the next world cup or at least the 2027 edition but that the world rugby confirms itand the most important thing that the Liga Americana de Rugby becomes a reality after the world cup

OK, convince one by one all those who believe we didn't so TV audience doesn't decrease. No fake news, just a description of the state of things. Hell, I would burn my national union offices, you are taking me for what I'm not. Don't let your forum obsessions take over the debate.

Tobar wrote:You think the US can upset England? Damn. Even with Downfall 2018 they are still far superior to us and will be full strength in the World Cup.

England are in a bad place right now on the field, on top of that they will have just four days rest before the US match and the US will have another year of MLR to develop player fitness. They’ll have no better chance to beat them.

Tobar wrote:You think the US can upset England? Damn. Even with Downfall 2018 they are still far superior to us and will be full strength in the World Cup.

England are in a bad place right now on the field, on top of that they will have just four days rest before the US match and the US will have another year of MLR to develop player fitness. They’ll have no better chance to beat them.

They'll be back in an okay place by the WC, plus an England 3rd string should still beat the US. It's Argentina, coming off of 4 days rest that is the real target for automatic qualification for 2023

Tobar wrote:You think the US can upset England? Damn. Even with Downfall 2018 they are still far superior to us and will be full strength in the World Cup.

England are in a bad place right now on the field, on top of that they will have just four days rest before the US match and the US will have another year of MLR to develop player fitness. They’ll have no better chance to beat them.

I completely agree. I don’t think we will win but this is definitely our best chance at winning.

I expect a decrease. Pay TV, bad kick-off times and people furious already you know why.

Yes. Kickoff times are terrible for the Americas. Some matches at 2 or 4 AM if I am not wrong.

My wishlist is always: Go underdogs!

Yes, they are all at terrible times. However, at least in the US I expect all the bigger games to be broadcast on delay on NBC Sports. For the casual fan, it doesn’t really make a difference unless they decide to search the game on social media.

Tobar wrote:You think the US can upset England? Damn. Even with Downfall 2018 they are still far superior to us and will be full strength in the World Cup.

England are in a bad place right now on the field, on top of that they will have just four days rest before the US match and the US will have another year of MLR to develop player fitness. They’ll have no better chance to beat them.

They'll be back in an okay place by the WC, plus an England 3rd string should still beat the US. It's Argentina, coming off of 4 days rest that is the real target for automatic qualification for 2023

In 2007 A pretty much full strength England team minus Johnny W limped (literally) to a 28-10 win over a USA team that had not much of a warm up in comparison and under a coach who hadn't been in the job for long. Infact if it hadn't been for a couple of biased ref decisions by Kaplan (who clearly favoured England in that game, just like he did v Samoa in 2003) the score would've been closer again. It would be funny if Eddie Jones having upset the applecart in 2015 then got upset himself! And in the last couple of RWCs we've seen a number of T1 teams struggling to get the engine started in their first game. I'm predicting an ENG win but not nearly as comfortably as you are probably thinking.

US fans shouldn't take a win v TONGA for granted. 1) The US has a horrible record against them 2) They usually step up for RWCs compared to inter-RWC year games. They are still going to be a tough nut to crack. Also while ARG usually steps up for RWCs in recent times, If Ledesma can't work his magic on them they could be vulnerable. I think they are definitely a team for the US to target. If I get to Japan next year this is a game I've got my eye on. Having said that ARG were looking horrible only a year or so out from 2015 and I said then they were vulnerable for 2015 and I got proven to be well wrong!

My (realistic) wish list is as follows:- Japan to reach the quarter finals- Russia to beat Samoa (this could be a great game and I can't wait for it)- A different winner to New Zealand (someone like Wales would be perfect)- USA to run close 2 of the 3 tier 1 sides in their group and to beat Tonga- A new semi finalist (Ireland most likely)- Georgia to finish 3rd in their group and give a scare to one of Wales or Australia - 2 shock results- largest margin of victory to be 40 points (will be tough considering the repechage winner and Namibia are in New Zealand and SA's group)- Uruguay to show how far they've come and to give a good challenge to Georgia and Fiji- the lowest ranked team to give a good showing to provide reason for RWC expansion

It's a long list but I don't see why at least 7/10 won't come true.

Another I would like to add actually is that a tier 1 nation will miss out on automatic qualification but that is less realistic especially given Italy have an easy route to third. Probably most likely on pool C with the USA